Council Councilwoman Kate Triggiano, center top row, chaired the meeting for the first time since her January 1 election as council president. (Photo from Zoom. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s council debated several issues with less friction Wednesday night than often seen over the past two years.
Chief Darren McConnell at National Night Out in August. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
One of two Red Bank council members who last week called the search for a new borough administrator “stalled” said he learned only this weekend that his colleagues had halted the search weeks earlier.
Meanwhile, two others on the all-Democratic council, as well as Mayor Pasquale Menna, said they’re happy with the job police Chief Darren McConnell is doing as interim administrator, and feel no pressure to replace him.
Former Business Administrator Ziad Shehady, right, with council members Ed Zipprich, left, and Michael Ballard in December, 2018. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
With a second vacancy in a key position looming, Red Bank’s search for a borough administrator has stalled without explanation, say two council members.
And the current, interim holder of the position, police Chief Darren McConnell, tells redbankgreen” that there has been no recent movement” toward a replacement.
Mayor Pasquale Menna, however, disagrees, and says the local government is operating “in stellar fashion” under McConnell.
Peter O’Reilly, left, with Mayor Pasquale Menna, right, and since-departed Business Administrator Ziad Shehady in May, 2019. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
After just two and a half years, Red Bank is back in the market for a borough chief financial officer.
With the departure of Peter O’Reilly, who submitted a letter of resignation Tuesday, the top two jobs at town hall are now vacant.
CFO Eugenia Poulos at a council meeting in 2017. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Borough hall may have been closed for New Year’s Eve, but the Red Bank council had one, last-minute bit of business to take care of Monday.
After a brief closed-door meeting, the governing body voted, 4-1, to fire the chief financial officer, just hours before she would have attained tenure.
Salaries for the mayor and council members would remain unchanged, but the earnings potential of professionals at borough hall would rise under a proposed ordinance. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Six borough hall jobs will offer potential salaries above $100,000 if an ordinance on Wednesday night’s agenda is passed by the Red Bank council.
That’s up from three the last time the council adjusted salaries for its professionals, in 2014.
Councilman Mike DuPont snaps a photo as Linda Schwabenbauer, joined by her father, Abe Schwabenbauer, awaits her swearing-in as a council member. Pasquale Menna, below, began his third four-year term as mayor. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
One year after Cindy Burnham ended a four-year lock by Democrats, Linda Schwabenbauer became the second Republican on the on the Red Bank council Sunday.
In keeping with recent tradition, however, partisanship was set aside as the annual reorganization of the borough government was marked by pledges of togetherness.
Invoking the way in which college hockey players came to shed their school identities to form the United States Olympic team in 1980, Schwabenbauer said that every member of the six-member council “has a party affiliation or cause, but each of us plays for Red Bank.”
Cindy Burnham recites the oath of office as Red Bank council member as her daughters Emily, Samantha and Kate look on. Below, Tommy Welsh was greeted by Councilman Mike DuPont after being sworn as fire chief for the second time. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Cindy Burnham officially ended the four-year lock by Democrat’s on the town’s governing body when she was sworn in as councilwoman Wednesday.
Burnham, 58, becomes the first non-Democrat to serve on the governing body since the departure of Grace Cangemi and interim Councilman Jim Giannell at the end of 2008.
The event attracted some GOP power hitters to borough, but the atmosphere at the borough government reorganization was collegial.
“My hope is that we can all work together to tackle the problems that are plaguing the people of Red Bank,” Burnham said in brief remarks after being sworn in by state Senator and former councilmember Jen Beck.
After little more than two years, Red Bank is again in the market for a chief financial officer, according to a news report.
The Holmdel Independent reported Tuesday that borough CFO Colleen Lapp has been hired by Middletown to replace departing CFO Nicola Trasente.
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
Bruce Loversidge can go back to retirement. Again.
Red Bank’s former chief financial officer and go-to guy to fill in for his outgoing successors will be relieved of his interim duties at the end of the month.
In speedy fashion, the borough has hired Spring Lake Heights’ financial chief to take over the post last held by Frank Mason, who left last month to become CFO in Montclair.
Frank Mason, seen here with borough Engineer Christine Ballard, will become CFO in Montclair. (Click to enlarge)
The keeper of Red Bank’s checkbook is leaving the borough government to take a similar job in Essex County.
Frank Mason, who has served as the borough’s chief financial officer since 2006, will become CFO for Montclair in late July, according to Red Bank Administrator Stanley Sickels.
“Montclair offered him a $25,000 increase, and it’s a big opportunity for him,” Sickels tells redbankgreen. “We love him dearly, but we can’t afford to match that.”